For a hundred years , the fishermen of Nova Scotia have braved moody, often storm-tossed seas in rugged trawlers. These boats had to be strong, stable, safe and sea kindly. In time, one hull design evolved that became the standard for the commercial fleet. That boat is known as the Cape Island trawler, or the “Cape Islander,” and it is now available as a finely finished cruising yacht.

The story of the Cape Island trawler began around 1905 with a Mr. William A. Kenney, or else with Sable Islander Ephraim Atkinson, depending on who is reciting the history. Kenney previously built Cape Island fishing sloops famous for their speed, and is most likely the first man to to build a Cape Island motorboat.  Atkinson had been a carpenter all his working life, beginning as an apprentice in 1874 at the age of 16. He moved to Cape Sable Island in 1883 and at first set up shop as a house builder to support his growing family. (In fact, several of Ephraim's houses are still standing and occupied today, more than 100 years later!) But he soon realized that building boats for the local fishing industry was where his future lay. Fishing was, and still is, the heart of the Island economy and at that time they were making the transition from sailboats to engine-driven trawlers.

Whether William Kenney or Ephraim Atkinson was the originator of the design, both were soon building these evolutionary motor vessels for the fishermen. It was a radical departure from the existing fishing boats; other builders were still turning out ketches and sloops. The Cape Island motor lobsterboat or trawler was stronger and beamier and achieved far greater stability and carrying capacity, enabling the fishermen to go out more days of the year, to stay out in worse weather and to carry heavier loads of

traps and gear. These early boats, hand-built with oak for the keel and hackmatack and pine planks for the hull, decking and house, were tough and long-lasting sea boats. It was not uncommon for a fisherman to use his Cape Islander for twenty years or more and then sell it, often for more than he had originally paid, and have a new boat built. 

By the time Ephraim retired in 1938 at the age of 80, his three sons had taken over his business. Those early years saw the Cape Island trawler become the standard boat for fishermen in Nova Scotia, and it migrated to New England. Legend has it that in the 1920's, Ephraim sold a Cape Islander to William Frost of Maine, grandfather of famed marine designer Royal Lowell, and that this early Cape Islander was the forerunner of what we now know as the Downeast lobster boat.

For a century now, the Cape Islander has been highly valued for its toughness, longevity, reliability, seaworthiness, dryness, and thanks to its beam and balance, for its remarkable stability as a fishing platform. It's also a handsome, salty-looking craft. So successful has the design been that today 80% of Nova Scotia's commercial fishing boats under 65-feet are Cape Islanders. 

A handful of Nova Scotia builders have gradually refined and improved the design , switching to fiberglass construction in the late 1970's. Many hundreds if not thousands of ‘glass Cape Island trawlers have been launched over the past decade alone, in sizes ranging from 35' to 55'. These hard-working trawlers can be found from Labrador to the West Indies. The workboats have an estimated useful life span of 30 to 50 years and are constructed to pass the rigid requirements and inspection of the Canadian Department of Transport, the Provincial Fisheries Loan Board and the Federal Department of Fisheries of Canada.

Today , our Nova Scotia builders have taken this hallmark design to its next evolutionary stage. For the first time, we're making a trawler yacht version of the famous Cape Island trawler available to trawler lovers worldwide. We offer a fully-molded 43-footer and a 45-55' hull intended for fully customized finishing. Like all Cape Islanders, these are broad-beamed vessels, very roomy, remarkably stable, tough as nails and absolutely beautiful to behold! All models are available with single or twin screws in sedan, aft cabin and pilothouse configurations.

After a century of sea trials in some of the toughest waters in the world, Cape Island trawlers are now offered as fine yachts on a limited production basis by Anchor Yacht & Ship Sales. Orders are being accepted for year 2004 delivery. For more information, contact us today:

Call (401) 246-2100 , or email CapeIsland@AnchorYachts.com